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Post by kds on May 11, 2023 12:52:58 GMT
I see a lot of votes for All Summer Long. Not from me. It should've been a slam dunk, but I have a lot of questions. The album cover gives me a "cold" vibe. Keep in mind - it's all SUMMER long. Why are Brian, Carl, and Mike wearing jackets and Dennis a sweater? The girl in pink looks like she's freezing with a jacket and bandana! Maybe nitpicking (but not a lot) but what's with the football (in two pictures), a fall sport? Two hot dog pictures? A couple of photos of guys just looking at girls? And, you know, when I think of summer fun, right away my thoughts go to burying my brother in the sand - while wearing a sweater. I don't know...maybe it's just me, but if I was planning and paying for a summer album cover for the most popular group in the U.S., I think I would come up with something better. You've never seen people throwing a football around on the beach in the summertime? If not, check out the first 20 minutes of Jaws, which takes place at the tail of June. You can see some kids throwing a football around in the ocean.
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Emdeeh
Pacific Coast Highway
Posts: 520
Likes: 532
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Post by Emdeeh on May 11, 2023 13:59:25 GMT
There's a local phenomenon in the L.A. area called "June gloom," where the beach fogs in and the temps cool down, even inland. I went to the beach there one time in May, when the fog was in and a chilly breeze was blowing. It was miserable. Even on sunny summer days, it can get cool at night there. So I'm not surprised to see long sleeves or sweaters in those ASL pix.
Now, when the Santa Ana winds blow in, often in the fall, we're talking hot temps all day and all night....
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Post by Kapitan on May 11, 2023 14:01:58 GMT
There's a local phenomenon in the L.A. area called "June gloom," where the beach fogs in and the temps cool down, even inland. I went to the beach there one time in May, when the fog was in and a chilly breeze was blowing. It was miserable. So I'm not surprised to see long sleeves or sweaters in those ASL pix. Along these lines--local norms--I was thinking about another thing. My sister lives in San Diego, and often talks about people in long sleeves, in sweaters, in jackets ... when it's 65 or 70. To me, that's shorts and t-shirt weather. But if you're used to something else, you dress or behave differently. That could also be in play. A slightly cool June evening by L.A. standards may well be what I'd call perfectly pleasant, even warm.
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Post by kds on May 11, 2023 14:28:01 GMT
There's a local phenomenon in the L.A. area called "June gloom," where the beach fogs in and the temps cool down, even inland. I went to the beach there one time in May, when the fog was in and a chilly breeze was blowing. It was miserable. So I'm not surprised to see long sleeves or sweaters in those ASL pix. Along these lines--local norms--I was thinking about another thing. My sister lives in San Diego, and often talks about people in long sleeves, in sweaters, in jackets ... when it's 65 or 70. To me, that's shorts and t-shirt weather. But if you're used to something else, you dress or behave differently. That could also be in play. A slightly cool June evening by L.A. standards may well be what I'd call perfectly pleasant, even warm. I've seen people wear long sleeves at the beach in Maryland when it's in the 90s. I assume its a way to block the sun, or they're even more tolerant of heat / humidity than me.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on May 11, 2023 17:38:05 GMT
Maybe nitpicking (but not a lot) but what's with the football (in two pictures), a fall sport? Two hot dog pictures? A couple of photos of guys just looking at girls? And, you know, when I think of summer fun, right away my thoughts go to burying my brother in the sand - while wearing a sweater. I don't know...maybe it's just me, but if I was planning and paying for a summer album cover for the most popular group in the U.S., I think I would come up with something better. I would say that is quite a lot of nitpicking, actually. You've never seen people playing football out of season? Just because the school and pro leagues don't happen in summer doesn't mean people don't throw around a football at the beach in summer! Guys looking at girls? (That might be the #1 beach activity of all time.) Counting hot dogs? Focusing on whether people are over-dressed? I think you're a bit too literal about all this, honestly. Not that you don't have a point: there is more of a non-summer impression than one might think if you really focus on what each picture shows ... but is it that big a deal? I think that, as with specific lyrics in song sequencing, perhaps you take this stuff much more literally than I do. I think it's a great cover, but I admit it's because I don't care that much whether it's summer-specific. And in fact, I'd say the color palette is a little more autumnal, with softer light and those gold/orange shades (though I think those are just very much of the times, along with olive greens and whatnot). But now, if I may contradict the whole premise by taking a page out of your book, I'd say "All Summer Long" is an autumn song, not a summer song. Or at least a back-to-school kind of song. The summer they're remembering is over (or ending). They HAVE been having fun all summer long, it won't be long til summer time is through, remember when... etc. So maybe it's chilly! T-shirts, cut-offs, and a pair of thongs...Let's see 'em!
Yes, of course I've seen people playing football in the summer. But, two photos of it? It's too bad the group didn't have a member who actually carried the football. Oh, that's right; Al Jardine was a running back in high school. And, it's also too bad they didn't have a member who knew how to throw the football and could've posed for that. Oh, that's right. Brian Wilson was a quarterback in high school. But, it's good they didn't choose the least athletic-looking member of the group to "hold" the football, looking like he didn't have a clue what to do with it. Oh, yeah, they actually did. Poor Carl...
There's guys looking at girls and then there's guys looking at girls. What is that girl "fixing" around Mike's collar? Very summer-like, huh? Then, you have Mike, wearing a dorky hat, looking at another girl, the same one who was looking at Brian eating a hot dog! Well, at least it was true-to-life. On the upper left, what summer thing is that girl doing around Brian's head? That's a real exciting shot of Al and Marianne. And, who is in that dark photo on the right? Great shot...brrrrrrr, it feels cold out here.
Where's the Honda? The girls on the beach in their bikinis? Miniature golf anyone? Again, two shots of hot dogs, but where's the drinks ('member when I spilled Coke all over your blouse)? Hell, I'd settle for a surfboard at this point (Don't back down, Sheriff!). Instead of just sitting in the cars, how about a shot of somebody cruisin' in one! We've been having fun all summer long...
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Post by Kapitan on May 11, 2023 17:48:50 GMT
I just can't begin to take it even 1/10th that seriously. That specifically/literally.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on May 11, 2023 17:58:31 GMT
I just can't begin to take it even 1/10th that seriously. That specifically/literally. See, I think things through, something The Beach Boys - and those associated with them - didn't do consistently, in my opinion of course. I do kid around occasionally, sometimes just to have fun or maybe spur some serious conversation. But, most of the time, I'm serious. I think The Beach Boys did NOT spend the adequate and necessary time in choosing the final tracklists for their albums, the sequencing of their albums, and even the album cover artwork. And, despite them being legendary, an institution no less, I think it cost them...significantly. And, no, having two photos of Brian Wilson with hot dogs on the cover of All Summer Long did not significantly cost them (just to cover my ass).
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Post by Kapitan on May 11, 2023 18:00:38 GMT
I would argue (and am arguing) that your perspective of hyperliteralism is unique, and had they followed it, it wouldn't have helped them at all. I don't see these things as lost opportunities at all.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on May 11, 2023 18:01:58 GMT
I would argue (and am arguing) that your perspective of hyperliteralism is unique, and had they followed it, it wouldn't have helped them at all. I don't see these things as lost opportunities at all. And I respect your opinion tremendously.
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Emdeeh
Pacific Coast Highway
Posts: 520
Likes: 532
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Post by Emdeeh on May 11, 2023 18:21:51 GMT
That's Lynda with Al -- his first wife and mother of Matt and Adam.
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Post by kds on May 11, 2023 18:26:06 GMT
Has anyone yet pointed out that the cover of Surfer Girl has five surfer dudes, not one surfer girl?
The cover of Summer Days Summer Nights only has a day picture.
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Post by Kapitan on May 11, 2023 18:35:35 GMT
I would argue (and am arguing) that your perspective of hyperliteralism is unique, and had they followed it, it wouldn't have helped them at all. I don't see these things as lost opportunities at all. And I respect your opinion tremendously. I think we're on the same page, but just to make 100% sure, I don't think these things are objectively knowable anyway, and to me this is all just fun. My opinion means nothing more than yours, by any means. That I disagree just makes for some spirited posting, that's all.
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Post by lonelysummer on May 11, 2023 23:00:40 GMT
Has anyone yet pointed out that the cover of Surfer Girl has five surfer dudes, not one surfer girl? The cover of Summer Days Summer Nights only has a day picture. One problem solved. Attachments:
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Post by lonelysummer on May 11, 2023 23:01:54 GMT
Why doesn't TWGMTR have a photo of a radio on it? Or better yet, the five remaining BB's standing by an old radio?
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Post by B.E. on May 11, 2023 23:28:12 GMT
Not that you don't have a point: there is more of a non-summer impression than one might think if you really focus on what each picture shows ... but is it that big a deal? I think that, as with specific lyrics in song sequencing, perhaps you take this stuff much more literally than I do. I think it's a great cover, but I admit it's because I don't care that much whether it's summer-specific. And in fact, I'd say the color palette is a little more autumnal, with softer light and those gold/orange shades (though I think those are just very much of the times, along with olive greens and whatnot). But now, if I may contradict the whole premise by taking a page out of your book, I'd say "All Summer Long" is an autumn song, not a summer song. Or at least a back-to-school kind of song. The summer they're remembering is over (or ending). They HAVE been having fun all summer long, it won't be long til summer time is through, remember when... etc. So maybe it's chilly! Good points, Kapitan, but first I just want say that All Summer Long might be their most aesthetically pleasing album cover (if not their flat-out best). I love the colors and the design, and I like the pictures (but like anything, sure, I suppose they could have been a little better). Overall it certainly has a late summer/early fall feel and that’s perfectly fine with me, and as you point out, is consistent with the lyrics of the title track. Specifically, it feels like September. The summer crowds are gone, the locals have the beach to themselves. The weather is starting to cool, they’re back in school, and sports are starting up. But they’re hanging onto summer… And as was mentioned in a later post, isn’t southern California known for being 70 year round? Surfers wore long sleeve Pendletons, right? Because it gets cool at night even in the summer? On another level, I’m sure the decision to picture the group wearing different outfits (including pants and long sleeve shirts, sweaters, and jackets) on the beach was fashion driven. And posing on the beach was killing two birds with one stone. But, again, I like the late summer/early fall vibe you get from some of their early album covers. What I get from it is: they live that life year-round, they’re not just down for the weekend or on vacation. They’re living the dream.
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